CHAPTER 5: Threat Outside The Capital

MABEL'S POV 

I stopped before the hospital, stepped out of the car, and rushed inside. Nurses ran from one corner to the other, a few patients seated at the side, probably awaiting the doctor. 

My gaze was fixed ahead, legs heavy with each step I took. The most important thing right now wasn't the slight tug in my chest from the divorce; it was finding a way to save my daughter. 

But how? I didn't know where to start. 

The minute I got to the ward, the scent of disinfectant hit me stronger than before, but nothing prepared me for the sight before me. 

The nanny on the floor begged the nurses while they removed the monitoring leads from my daughter’s chest and disconnected her IV line. 

“Alpha's orders,” one of them said coldly. There was no compassion whatsoever. Not a professional smile, a distant look on their faces. 

I stood frozen in place, staring through the glass door as everything happened. 

It was like I had been poured a bucket of cold water. Kyren was ruthless enough to order this? Was he that desperate to kick me away? 

The nanny rushed towards me, crawling on the ground. “Luna … Luna, do something. The alpha … he ..he couldn't have ordered this right?” 

I sniffled, a self-deprecating smile split across my lips.

“You should return,” I said, trying hard to suppress the devastation building inside me. “I am not your Luna anymore,” I added, and walked past her into the ward. 

I reached my daughter's side. Her face was pale, her lips were cracked. She tried to speak, but it came out in short, pitiful whimpers. 

“I'm here, Mama's here. I'm going to get us help, okay?” I assured, though the words burned my very tongue. 

“I wish we could have been of help, but you know, no one can go against the supreme alpha,” Veyron said. I could hear the relief in his voice, as if a burden had been taken away from him. 

My daughter was a burden. 

I lifted my daughter and carried her in my arms, without bothering to speak with Veyron. I turned and left through the door. 

Each step closer to the exit felt more difficult than the last. Where would I go? How would I get help before one month had elapsed? 

The whispers around me didn't help my current situation. 

“She must have done something to piss the alpha off.” 

“Haven't you heard? The alpha married her out of pity. Now, Lady Gena is back. What did you expect?” 

Out of pity? 

I let out a bitter laugh, a lump forming in my throat. Kyren married me out of pity? Did he also impregnate me out of pity? 

“Wait! Lady Mabel!” 

I stopped in my tracks when I heard Doctor Veyron’s voice. Maybe the goddess has found a way to help my daughter.

He stepped in front of me, then smiled nervously. 

“The alpha gave an order,” he said, and my hands tightened around my daughter. I didn't know why I held onto the faintest hope. Foolishness, maybe, but I really wanted to save my daughter. 

“W—what order?” 

“The car belongs to the Luna, since you are no longer …” he paused, noticing the way my face paled. He cleared his throat, then continued. 

“Since you are no longer the Luna, you should leave the car behind and ….” 

“I don't want his car!” I snapped, my chest heavy. “He could have it. If I have to walk out of the pack with my legs, then I would walk until I got to another pack,” I added, eyes stinging badly as I brushed past him.

I walked out of the hospital amidst the weird gazes and the sinking feeling that I was alone. Alone and with no clue how to get my daughter tested. 

“Kyra,” I called out to her the moment I stepped outside, the night cold wrapping around me as street lights shone brightly. 

She gave me a crooked response, but it was enough. As long as she could respond. 

I carried her to my other hand and dipped my hand into my pocket, and brought the cash inside. It was 50 dollars. It wasn't enough to hire a taxi to travel to another park, nor was it enough to feed, or to pay my daughter's medical bill. 

I clenched my hands and swallowed. I can do this. I can find a way, I could work so that she would be fine. 

Soon, I got to a supermarket, grabbed a few things for my daughter and me. It wasn't enough, but I still had ten dollars left. If there were no rainfall, I could walk out of this park. It was probably a mile, two miles, or ten. I didn't know, I didn't care. 

Hours passed, and I had walked quite a distance. Away from the capital, and into the smaller town. While the capital all had streetlights, this place was different. 

Darkness painted the town, and I could barely see where I was headed.  

“What's a frail woman doing out here?” I heard a low, menacing voice that sent shivers down my spine. 

I immediately spun around and caught sight of a figure. It moved. The air suddenly felt heavy, as I couldn't make out any features apart from glowing eyes. 

“And that too … this late at night,” he added in a growl. 

My heart sank. 

Rogues. He was a rogue wolf, and I knew, rogues …. weren't kind. 

“Don't come any closer. You don't want to get on my bad side,” I gritted out, but it didn't come out as confident as I wanted it to. 

My threat seemed to have angered him …or them. More glowing eyes crept out of the darkness, all fixated on me with this predatory hunger. I could hear the snapping of bones, the ripping of flesh. 

The supplies I had gathered slipped from my hands and came tumbling down. I clutched my daughter tighter to my chest and bolted instantly, heart pounding, adrenaline rising. 

I should have slept somewhere in the capital. I should have been careful. 

Now my daughter and I would probably die in the hands of these rogues. 

I almost tripped, then gasped, and found my stance again before running, legs dipping into the wet soil. I turned to look at them and noticed they weren't running after me; instead, they walked, eyes blazing in the dark. It was like they were confident they would get to me no matter how fast I ran. 

Dread settled in the pit of my stomach. 

Would I survive this?